Government Information

Satellite Images of Burma's Cyclone Flooding

Wed, 07 May 2008 20:42:02 -0400

NASA has satellite images of Burma before and after Cyclone Nargis hit.

Before & After:

The full article may be viewed here.

Tax Forms

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:53:52 -0400

Did you know that most tax forms are available online? Federal tax forms are available through the IRS from their website in PDF format. The most commonly used forms, 1040, 1040EZ, & W-4, can be accessed from the main page. There is also information on e-filing from the webpage. For filing with New York State, you can download most forms from the Department of Taxation and Finance Webpage also available in PDF format. Need to file for a state other than New York? The Federation of Tax Administrators has links the relevant taxation websites of all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Election Resources

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:40:59 -0500

Federal Election Commission

Created to enforce the Federal Election Campaign Act, the Federal Election Commission is a good source for information about election financing.

U.S. Census Bureau: Voting and Registration

Voting and Registration statistics from the U.S. Census.

President Bush's Final State of the Union Address

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:46:58 -0500

President Bush issued his last State of the Union Address last night (January 28th). Audio, video, pictures and transcripts are available on the White House webpage in the News Section under President Bush Delivers State of the Union Address.

The DEC has some Good News on Local Environmental Issues

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:44:00 -0500

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced on December 26th the creation of the Office of Invasive Species to deal with invasive species in New York State. Invasive species are non-native plants, animals or other life that threatens the biodiversity of the ecosystems they are introduced too. One example of an invasive species currently found in New York State is the zebra mussel, which is found in all of the Great Lakes and the Hudson River. The zebra mussel, which is native to the Caspian Sea, removes microscopic lifeforms and nutrients out of water they live in, often at the disadvanage of native species. You can read more about them at the USGS Great Lakes Science Center. The Office of Invasive Species will work to prevent and combat invasive species. You can learn more from the Department of Conservation’s press release.

More good news: the Department of Environmental Conservation has announced that $1.7 million in grants are available for the Hudson Estuary Grants program! Grants are available for municipalities and non-for-profit agencies. If you are interested in learning more and perhaps applying for a grant, information is available at the Hudson River Estuary Grants Program Webpage.

If you are interested in keeping up to date with the activities of New York State’s Department on Environmental Conservation, you can sign up for their EnvironmentDEC list, which provides you with monthly emails on DEC policies and activities.

New @ STL: Historical Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:46:55 -0500

Historical Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections 1788-2004

Call Number: G1201.F9 H5 2006 / Reference

Two pages of maps for each election from 1788 to present include:

One national map showing the winning candidate for each county
One national map per major candidate, including important third-party candidates
Snapshot data and statistical charts on popular and electoral voting, candidate names and parties, and voter turnout

(Taken from CQ Press)

New Books: The Supreme Court Compendium & Historical Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:26:00 -0500

The Supreme Court Compendium: Data, Decisions & Developments

Call Number: KF8742 .S914 2007 / Reference

The Supreme Court Compendium is a comprehensive source of historical and statistical information on the U.S. Supreme Court.

GPO Unveils Online Guide to House and Senate Members

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:58:05 -0500

This new guide published by the GPO allows users to search 110th Congress Members district, hometown, or groups of Members by state, party affiliation, or number of terms. It is a quick and easy way to search Congressional Pictorial Directory and Congressional Biographical Directory with information from the Congressional Directory coming soon. You can access the Guide to House and Senate Members here.

Terrorism activities in the US

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 08:11:00 -0500

The FBI has published its newest edition of its report summarizing
terrorist activities in the US. The newest report - “Terrorism
2002-2005” can be found as follows and the previous reports are listed
below:

PDF — http://www.fbi.gov/publications/terror/terrorism2002_2005.pdf

HTML — http://www.fbi.gov/publications/terror/terrorism2002_2005.htm

Previous Reports

Terrorism 2000/2001

Terrorism in the United States:

1996
1997
1998
1999

National Strategy for Homeland Security

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:13:35 -0500

From the Bush Administration report:

“The purpose of our Strategy is to guide, organize, and unify our Nation’s homeland security efforts. It provides a common framework by which our entire Nation should focus its efforts on the following four goals:

Prevent and disrupt terrorist attacks;
Protect the American people, our critical infrastructure, and key resources;
Respond to and recover from incidents that do occur; and
Continue to strengthen the foundation to ensure our long-term success.”

Full PDF Document

Commenting On Government Information

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:07:00 -0500

The Government Information Tumblog now has commenting. If you wish to leave a comment, simply click on the date of the entry you want to comment on and type away!

Blackwater Hearing

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:51:00 -0400

Blackwater USA: Private Military Contractor Activity in Iraq and
Afghanistan” House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Hearing

Follow the hearings as they occur!

An Oregon District Court Rules Parts of the Patriot Act Unconstitutional

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:59:34 -0400

U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken ruled that two provisions in the Patriot Act allow for the issuing of search warrants without probable cause and are therefor unconstitutional. The Court Opinion may be found here.

UN Creates Website on Climate Change

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:31:02 -0400

Gateway to the UN System’s Work on Climate Change

This United Nations website makes it easier to find United Nations reports, studies, and press releases for various UN agencies.

New York State not to Apply for Abstinence Only Sex Education Funding

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:36:59 -0400

Statement by State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines

As reported by the New York Times, New York State is not reapplying for federal government abstinence-only sex education funding.

Grant of Executive Clemency: Lewis "Scooter" Libby

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:23:24 -0400

Grant of Executive Clemency: Lewis Libby

The text of President Bush’s grant of clemency to Lewis “Scooter” Libby from the White House website. Also includes a link to a statement by the president on the grant of clemency.

Women in Congress

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:22:37 -0400

Women in Congress

Based on the book, Women in Congress 1917-2006 (available in the library), this resources provides biographical information on women in congress both past and present. This site also includes historical essays, photographs and other images plus an “artifact” section with campaign posters, buttons and other paraphernalia.

Civil War in Iraq?

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:20:33 -0400

Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq March 2007

This is a quarterly report from the Defense Department to Congress on the War in Iraq. What is so important or unusual about this issue? It marks the first time the Defense Department has called the situation in Iraq a civil war (see page 4).

Budget of the United States

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:19:52 -0400

The 2008 Budget of the United States of America

The Offical Budget of the United States of America

State of the Judiciary

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:19:16 -0400

2007 State of the Judiciary - State of New York Unified Court System

The Honorable Judith S. Kaye, Chief Judge of the State of New York gave her annual address on the state of the New York Unified Court System on February 26, 2007.